After the UEFA Champions League third round qualifying victory against Viktoria Plzen and advancing to the Champions League playoffs where they will face Basel, Maccabi Tel Aviv is preparing for their upcoming Toto Cup match against Maccabi Petach Tikva on Monday night at Bloomfield Stadium, 20:50. Head Coach Slavisa Jovanovic along with defender Yuval Shpungin spoke to the press to give their impressions about advancing in Europe as well as tomorrow night’s game.
Head Coach Slavisa Jovanovic:
How are your preparations for the Toto Cup match?
I am looking forward to this game and right now this is most important match for us. Last year they defeated Maccabi in the final match of the season and they play a 4-4-2. We will have to be organized properly and begin the game as best as we can. We will always be prepared and we have a responsibility to do so.
What type of changes will you make it the squad for the match?
Dor Peretz and Sean Goldberg will play tomorrow and are working very hard in training and can be the future of Maccabi Tel Aviv. They did a great job in the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv and they will have another opportunity.
All of the players on the squad are part of Maccabi Tel Aviv and all of the players will have a chance to play tomorrow against Petach Tikva.
Do you see the match against Petach Tikva as an opportunity to begin preparations for Basel and where would you like to play the home match?
I don’t see this as an opportunity to get prepared for Basel. But right now this match tomorrow is our focus. I would rather play at my home which is Bloomfield. Sammy Ofer may be bigger but it’s not our home.
What is the latest with bringing in new players prior to the match against Basel?
The club is working very hard to bring in new players before the Basel game but right now our newest player Avi Rikan is doing a great job.
Defender Yuval Shpungin spoke about how he feels about playing Basel, his teammates and his recent form:
This is not the first time that Maccabi has played Basel. We believe and that we will get ready as professionally as possible. We have a great lockerroom and we have some players that may be more active than others but we are all one team.
I am in great shape and I want to continue to get better and that I will keep doing what the coach asks me to. We are all looking forward to the next match against Maccabi Petach Tikva.
